“California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement on the University of California’s threat to increase tuition unless the state appropriates additional funds, thereby breaking its two-year old tuition-freeze agreement negotiated in 2013 in exchange for increased state funding:

“The University of California cannot bestow pay raises on its top earners with one hand, while continually taking more from students and their families with the other and deflecting criticism by laying its solution at the door of taxpayers. New funding must be tied to earnest and innovative attempts to reduce the university’s cost structure and promote affordability and accessibility, not threats that reward the status quo.”

Background

The proposed increase to students comes just two months after the same board approved up to 20 percent increases to four chancellors and increased a base salary for a new chancellor by 23 percent of his predecessor. These decisions are not tied to performance or outcomes.

Lieutenant Governor Newsom believes that high-level solutions could be factored in to meet the growing costs. For instance, UC facilities system-wide could save $500,000 per contract if in-house employment was used over outside contractors; another $160 million could be saved if UC offered an Associate Degree to Transfer Program from California Community Colleges, similar to existing program between community colleges and California State Universities; and millions could be saved if the failed IT implementation of UC Path was addressed. That program’s repayment costs have ballooned to $200 million over the next 20 years.

The University of California system has received numerous increases to financial resources including full funding of State’s Cal grant program; expansion of the middle-income fee grants covering one-half of tuition and fee increases for middle-income students from families earning up to $120,000; 20 percent increase in state funding as part of a multi-year stable funding plan; a 5 percent increase from the 2014-15 state budget contingent a tuition freeze through 2016-17; and $50 million to promote innovative models of higher education at the campus level that result in more bachelor’s degrees, improved four‑year completion rates, and more effective transfers between the community colleges and the universities.

“Former state Supreme Court Justice and UC Davis School of Law Professor Emeritus Cruz Reynoso is the first member of task force that will review report about UC Davis pepper spraying from ex-L.A. police chief William Bratton.”

I, for one, am prepared to allow our UC some breathing room on this one. Let’s give them a little while and then see what they come up with, on both this incident and the prior UC Berkeley baton incident, m’kay?

Click to expand

“Cruz Reynoso chairs task force on pepper spray incident

Date: 2011-11-28

University of California President Mark G. Yudof announced today (Nov. 28) the appointment of former California Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reynoso to chair the task force formed to address the pepper spraying of UC Davis students.Reynoso, a UC Davis law professor emeritus who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000, will be “absolutely fair,” Yudof said.The task force is part of UC’s efforts to address policing issues in the wake of the Nov. 18 pepper spraying of UC Davis students and other incidents involving law enforcement officers and protesters. Acting in response to a written request from UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi, Yudof last Tuesday announced that former Los Angeles police chief William J. Bratton would lead an independent fact-finding of the pepper spray incident and report back the results to him within 30 days.Bratton, who also led the New York City police department, now heads the New York-based Kroll consulting company as chairman. He is a renowned expert in progressive community policing. Assembly Speaker John A. Perez also had made a request to Yudof and UC Regents Chair Sherry Lansing for an independent investigation.Under the plan, Bratton’s report also will be presented to the task force that Yudof is forming, again at Katehi’s request. The task force will consist of a cross-section of students, faculty, staff and other UC community members. Reynoso is the first member named to the task force. The task force will review the report and make recommendations to Katehi on steps that should be taken to ensure the safety of peaceful protesters on campus. She will present her implementation plan to Yudof.

Reynoso, a farmworker’s son, rose from an Orange County barrio to become the first Latino to serve on the California Supreme Court. He has a bachelor’s degree from Pomona College and a law degree from UC Berkeley. His distinguished career includes serving as director of the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, a UCLA law school professor and as vice chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. He joined the UC Davis law school faculty in 2001 as the inaugural holder of its Boochever and Bird Chair for the Study and Teaching of Freedom and Equality.

In remarks at the regents meeting today, Yudof reiterated his support for protecting the right to peaceful protests on campus and emphasized that Bratton’s investigation will be independent.

Last Tuesday, in a separate effort, Yudof also appointed UC General Counsel Charles Robinson and UC Berkeley School of Law Dean Christopher Edley Jr. to lead a systemwide examination of police protocols and policies as they apply to protests at all 10 UC campuses. The review is expected to result in recommended best practices for policing protests across the 10 UC campuses.

University of California President Mark G. Yudof moved on two fronts today (Tuesday, Nov. 22) to address policing issues in the wake of the pepper spraying of UC Davis students and other incidents involving law enforcement officers and protesters.

Acting in response to a written request from UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi, Yudof agreed to conduct a thorough review of the events of Nov. 18 on the Davis campus.

As a first step, Yudof reached out to former Los Angeles police chief William J. Bratton to undertake an independent fact-finding of the pepper spray incident and report back the results to him within 30 days.

Bratton, who also led the New York City police department, now heads the New York-based Kroll consulting company as chairman. He also is a renowned expert in progressive community policing.

“My intent,” Yudof said, “is to provide the Chancellor and the entire University of California community with an independent, unvarnished report about what happened at Davis.”

Assembly Speaker John A. Perez also had made a request to President Yudof and UC Regents Chair Sherry Lansing for an independent investigation.

Under the plan, Bratton’s report also will be presented to an advisory panel that Yudof is forming, again at Katehi’s request. The panel will consist of a cross-section of students, faculty, staff and other UC community members.

The advisory panel, whose members will be announced at a later date, will review the report and make recommendations to Chancellor Katehi on steps that should be taken to ensure the safety of peaceful protesters on campus. She will present her implementation plan to President Yudof.

On a second track, Yudof appointed UC General Counsel Charles Robinson and UC Berkeley School of Law Dean Christopher Edley Jr. to lead a system-wide examination of police protocols and policies as they apply to protests at all 10 UC campuses.

This effort will include visits to campuses for discussions with students, faculty and staff, and consultation with an array of experts.

The review is expected to result in recommended best practices for policing protests across the 10 UC campuses.

“With these actions,” Yudof said, “we are moving forward to identify what needs to be done to ensure the safety of students and others who engage in non-violent protests on UC campuses. The right to peaceful protest on all of our campuses must be protected.”

“We had a technical issue updating Forum last night – Pat Buchanan will not be our guest at 10am. The guests will be:

Linda Katehi, Chancellor, University of California, DavisNathan Brown, Assistant Professor Organization: Department of English – University of California, Davis. And member of the Davis Faculty Association, which on Saturday called for the resignation of Chancellor Katehi over the pepper spray incident.Fatima Sbeih, Senior at UC Davis – She was among those demonstrators pepper-sprayed”]

“The pepper-spraying of Occupy Wall Street protesters at the University of California, Davis by a law enforcement officer on Friday has drawn criticism outrage from around the world. At 10am pst KQED’s popular call-in show, Forum, will discuss the incident with UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi, who has been the target of student protests following the pepper-spraying and has been asked to resign by the university’s faculty association.

UC Davis announced today that it has placed university police chief Annette Spicuzza on leave after her officers used pepper spray to move seated Occupy UC Davis protesters on Friday. The incident, which has gained international media attention, also led the campus faculty association to call for the resignation of Chancellor Linda Katehi. She says she will not step down. We discuss the controversy.”

If you think you might be into it, get you tickets now, ’cause this joint is going to sell out with a quickness:

“On Thursday, September 8th, we will be hosting the program Gavin Newsom: The Man, the Issues and the State of California, to discuss California and Gavin Newsom’s new role as Lieutenant Governor. This should be a great opportunity to hear from San Francisco’s recently departed mayor, and California’s newly elected Lieutenant Governor, on his new role and the state of affairs in Sacramento.

The mise-en-scene, complete with the two other top lawyers of official San Francisco, Dennis Herrera and Jeff Adachi, along with new Supervisors Scott Wiener,* Malia Cohen,* (icy, icy cold**) Mark Farrell,* and Jane Kim,* plus tried-and-true Supes President David Chiu and Bevan Dufty, and plus, George’s foxy blonde wife Fabiola:

“Herrera praises Gascón as a ‘stellar choice’ for District Attorney of San Francisco. City Attorney had hailed SFPD Chief as key to civil gang injunctions’ success, is certain he’ll be a continuing ally as District Attorney

SAN FRANCISCO (Jan. 9, 2011) — City Attorney Dennis Herrera today praised Mayor Gavin Newsom’s appointment of Police Chief George Gascón as District Attorney to fulfill the unexpired term of Kamala Harris, who recently vacated the office to become California’s Attorney General.

Reacting to this afternoon’s announcement in City Hall, Herrera issued the following statement:

“Police Chief George Gascón is a stellar choice for District Attorney of San Francisco. I’ve repeatedly credited his leadership as key to making our civil gang injunction program a success. I couldn’t hope for a better ally to continue Kamala Harris’s record in aggressively prosecuting gang injunction cases. I know Mayor Newsom had a very tough decision to make among a number of excellent potential successors, and he has made an experienced, top-notch pick. I look forward to working closely with our new District Attorney in the months and years to come.”

Last September, Herrera’s motion for an injunction against two warring criminal street gangs in Visitacion Valley was granted by a San Francisco Superior Court judge. The new injunction against the Down Below Gangsters and Towerside Gang represented the City’s fourth civil gang injunction, which now involve seven different criminal street gangs. Herrera’s office has worked closely with police, to compile the exhaustive evidence necessary to obtain gang injunctions, and the District Attorney’s Office, which prosecutes violations of them. Prior to the Visitacion Valley injunction in September, Herrera had secured injunctions against the Bayview Hunters Point-based Oakdale Mob in October 2006; the Mission-based Norteño gang in 2007; and the Western Addition-based Chopper City, Eddy Rock and Knock Out Posse gangs in 2007. In 2009, Herrera moved successfully to modify the Oakdale Mob injunction to add six new adult gang members to that injunction’s provisions. In all, 134 adult gang members are currently subject to San Francisco’s four injunctions. No juveniles are named in any of San Francisco’s civil gang injunctions.”

“MAYOR NEWSOM APPOINTS GEORGE GASCÓN AS DISTRICT ATTORNEY

San Francisco, CA—Mayor Gavin Newsom today appointed Police Chief George Gascón as San Francisco’s District Attorney.

“As Police Chief, George Gascón has brought continued reform and accountability to the police department, introduced innovative crime prevention strategies and helped bring violent crime in our City to historic lows,” said Mayor Newsom. “I am very proud today to appoint George Gascón as our City’s top law enforcement officer to complete the term of Kamala Harris and bring that same spirit of accountability, innovation and collaboration to the District Attorney’s office.”

“I am profoundly honored by this opportunity to serve the people of San Francisco as District Attorney,” said District Attorney Gascón. “Together, with the hardworking attorneys and professional staff of the District Attorney’s office, we will bring criminals to justice, continue the innovative efforts begun under Kamala Harris and ensure new levels of cooperation between police and prosecutors.”

Appointed as Chief of the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) by Mayor Newsom in 2009, Gascón also holds a Juris Doctorate degree from Western State University College of Law and has been an active member of the California Bar Association since June 1996. Gascón also graduated from the FBI’s National Executive Institute, and is a member of the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government’s Executive Session on Policing and Public Safety. Gascón will be San Francisco’s first Latino District Attorney in history.

During Gascón’s tenure as Police Chief, violent crime in San Francisco has dropped to historic lows not seen since the 1960s through the strategic deployment of law enforcement resources, reform and accountability within the SFPD and increased collaboration with the City’s diverse communities to prevent crime. SFPD Assistant Chief Jeff Godown will serve as Acting Chief of Police until a new Chief is selected by the Police Commission and the interim mayor.

Gascón was appointed to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in April 1978. He served as an officer until 1981, when he left to pursue a career in business management while volunteering his time as a reserve officer. Gascón returned to law enforcement full-time in April 1987, and quickly moved through the LAPD ranks gaining experience in a variety of operational and management functions. Gascón served as LAPD’s Assistant Police Chief and Director over the Office of Operations in charge of patrol, detectives, aviation, special operations, and jails. For three years, Gascón was the Chief of Police for the Mesa Police Department in Arizona.

Gascón is a subject matter expert in the areas of police accountability, community policing, police training, hiring practices, management, policing immigrant communities, and use of force. He has published articles on police training, the role of local police and unauthorized immigration, COMPSTAT, and the economic cost of policing.

As San Francisco District Attorney, Gascón will be responsible for investigating and prosecuting crime in San Francisco and supporting victims of crime. With four major divisions – the Criminal Division, the Investigations Bureau, the Special Operations Division, and the Victim Services Division, the District Attorney’s Office brings actions involving consumer fraud, including real estate fraud, insurance fraud and financial fraud against elders, and actions to ensure environmental protection.”

*Wow, s/he’s intelligent. Throw in Carmen Chu* and you’ve got, by far, the most intelligentest incoming San Francisco Board of Supervisors class in 155 years or so of history. The Boardwalk Empire-types have lost and the professionals have won.

**What makes Mark Farrell a Democrat? I don’t know.*** I know what makes the others Democrats, but not him. And just how will he be able to afford to live on a five-figure salary? Once again, I don’t know. We’ll see.

****And BTW, did anybody else call Districts 2 and 10 the day after the election. Believe it or not, no. Last summer I was thinking the punditry was seriously underestimating both these two and, I’ve got to say, that turned out to be correct, non?

“Please join me in paying tribute to this bright star.all are welcome.please bring any music,poetry,ect. that melissa liked or that remind’s you of her.and please pass this on to anyone who might have know melissa. any network friends,ucsb,ucsf,etc. thank you.=i’m not sure exactly were on the beach it is going to be,i cant reserve a fire pit.i just need to go early and save one.if anyone wants to help in any way firewood,passing this on,food.you are more than welcome. p.s. this is a drug and alcohol free event.”

(Personally, I think when people use the term “speeding” in regards to traffic on Fell and Oak, they’re not saying what mean. Are they talking about cars literally going more than 30 mph? It’s not clear.)

First of all, Garamendi called for the end of the two-thirds supermajority requirement to raise taxes in California. Then John called for support of an oil severance tax, namely AB656 from Assemblymember Torrico.

Now let’s hear from Sandra Faber, chair of the astronomy and astrophysics department at UC Santa Cruz. She talked about just paying out $150k in retention bonuses for three valued U.C. employees.